Means for adjusting the level of a hem of the skirt of a garment



June 28, 1960 A.\N.IBRCDVVPJ MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE LEVEL OF A HEM OF THE SKIRT OF A GARMENT Filed Dec. 10, 1956 nited Stats? W r Tasman?- r MEANS FOR ADJUSTING: 'IHE'LEVEL F A'HEM on THE SKIRT' or A GARMENT 1 Aftlturwilliam Brown; 45iYictorlaj St., Petolle,

. New Zealand Filed Dec; 10, 1956, Ser. No. 627,219

1 Claim. (Cl. 30-231) This invention relates to means for adjusting the level the requirements for a simple yet effective means for'this purpose.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a means for adjusting the level of a hem of the skirt of a garment which is cheap to manufacture yet convenient and effective in use.

Accordingly the invention consists in means for adjusting the level of a hem of the skirt of a garment while supported on a wearer or on a model, comprising holding means adapted to hold cutting means, such as a pair of scissors, guiding means adapted to coact with the floor or the like surface on which the wearer or model is standing, and carrying means to adjustably carry said holding means at a suitable height, the construction and arrangement being such that in use, the means for adjusting the level of a hem is placed at a convenient position in relation to the hem of the dress and the cutting means then used to cut the hemat the desired level, movement of said guiding means thereof by the operator during the cutting action causing said guiding means to move along the floor or the like surface on which the wearer or model is standing.

Preferably the construction of the guiding means is such that said guiding means follow a curved path which is substantially the same as the curve of the periphery of the hem of the skirt of the garment.

A preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the invention,

Figure Zis a horizontal section on the plane 11--11, Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the upper part thereof.

Referring to the drawings, in the preferred form of the invention as shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, a guiding means is constructed as follows. A frame 1 is made, for example as a casting and slots 2, 2a and 3 are provided to receive wheels 6, 6a and 7 on which the frame will run. So that the guiding means will tend to follow a curved path which is substantially the same as the curve of the hem of a skirt of a garment, e.g. a dress, the axles 4, 4a and 5 of the wheels 6, 6a and 7 are arranged so that if their centre lines are extended as shown by the dash and dot lines 8, 8a and 9 in Figure 2, they will meet at a common point 10. Thus the frame will tend to move on a circular path having its centre at 10. It will, of course, be clear that because of lack of friction on, for example, a polished floor, there 2,942,340 Patented June 28, 1960 may be sometendency for the centre 10 toshift. This does not materially detract from the advantages of the construction. r l A r The wheels 6 and 6a are positioned at about 10" front thecentre 10, the wheel 7 being spaceda greater distance froin'the centre 10 depending on the dimensions of theframeL,

To provide a carrying means, a boss 11, formed in'- tegrally with the frame casting 1, is provided with a tapped hole 12 which receives a rod 13 screwed to fit the hole 12. Adjustably mounted on the rod 13 is a bracket 14 comprising a U shaped casting having apertures 15 and 15a in the arms thereof through which the rod 13 is passed, the bracket 14 being adjustably held by a clamping screw 16 screwed into the bracket 14 and extending through the bracket so that the end 17 is engageable with the rod 13. Holding means to hold a cutting means such as a pair of scissors 18 in an operative position so that the hem can be cut on a horizontal level, are provided and comprise a' thimble 19 having a depression 19a therein to receive the lower end of the pivot pin of the scissors, the thimble 19 being held in the lower arm of the bracket 14 by the thimble terminating in a pin 20 of smaller diameter than the thimble 19, the pin 20 being expanded at 21 after having been inserted in the hole 15a in the lower arm .22. A further thimble 23 is provided, again having a depression 23a which receives the upper side of the pivot pin of the scissors 18 and to enable this thimble to be adjusted to hold the scissors a screw 26 is passed through a threaded hole 27 in the upper arm 28 of the bracket 14 and the thimble 24 is loosely fitted on this screw with the end of the screw being expanded at 24 to hold the thimble in place. The screw 26 is provided with a knurled lock nut 25 and has a knurled head 29 by which it may be manually operated.

The screw 26 is tightened sufliciently to hold the scissors in position at the same time allowing them to be freely worked. On this position being reached, the lock nut 25 is tightened. V

The operation of the means is as follows. A garment 30 the level of the hem of the skirt of which is to be; adjusted, is either worn by the person for whom it is. 'being made or placed on a suitable model such as a;

papier mache or paper strip model.

The level of the scissors is adjusted by loosening the screw 16 and moving the bracket 14 up or down the:

rod 13 to the desired level. The screw 16 is then tightened, holding the bracket 14 in this position. The level at which the scissors are used is, of course, such that after hemming, the skirt will be the correct length.

The scissors are then applied to the material of the skirt and by operation of the scissors excess material 31 on the hem is cut off, the means being moved along as the scissors cut into the material.

Because the axles 4, 4a and 5 are placed, on radial centre lines having the point 10 as their common centre the device will tend to follow a circular path. Thus the operator, while operating the'scissors, need only correct the travel of the means, rather than direct its travel so that it will follow the curved periphery of the dress.

It is to be noted that the construction can be reaidly modified to suit either a right or left handed operator .by simply placing the scissors 18 suitably in the able about axles fixed at each end of one of said side walls, the other wheel being rotatable about an axle fixed in the opposing side wall, a rod secured to said one side wall diametrically opposite said other wheel and extending vertically upward, a cutting instrument supporting member adjustable slidably on said rod, and the axles of 5 'said wheels being on radial center'lines having a'common center point whereby said wheels allow the'frame to follow a curved path substantially the same as the curve of the garment with the common point being locatedsub- -stantially at the center of symmetry of the garmentand 10 the frame revolves about the point as a center;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED sT'ATEs PATENTS Goggin Jan. 21, 1908 Lichtner Mar. 9, 1915 Favata Oct. 17, 1939 Van Liew Apr. 17, 1951 Barone Jan. 29, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Apr. 28, 1936 

